Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Funeral Flowers


Unexpected loss is fraught with deep emotions that words can barely express. To help families cope with the shock and agony, flowers offer comfort and express sympathy.Manners and methods of conveying sympathy vary through countries, cultures and religions, but flowers remain fitting tributes to a departed soul. Displayed during the funeral service and remaining after the ceremony, flowers act as aromatic reminders of the departed member who so enriched life's journey with an inimitable presence. While a personal selection is always best, florists are familiar with the most effective colors and designs. A guidebook on conventional styles of flower arrangements for funerals may also help. Cultural taboos must be observed and good taste observed. A florist can also deliver funeral flowers to the bereaved family without invading privacy.Despite changing trends in funeral services, flowers can be designed to convey the spirit and aura of the person. Talk to the florist about the deceased's personality and special quirks for a more personalized floral creation that will lend comfort to the grieving family. Wreaths symbolizing the circle of life are the most recognized tokens of condolence. But increasingly, flower sprays highlighted on an easel, fresh flower arrangements in a vase or container, casket sprays and floral designs for inside the casket are gaining attention. Colors are conventionally white, pinks and pastels but red roses or tropical blooms can also convey warmth and depth of feeling.Sometimes, an offering of a potted green, a flowering plant, bonsai or sapling can spark hope and renewal in sorrowing hearts. The very act of caring for a new plant can speed the grieving process and set in the healing. Even after the immediate days of loss, sending funeral flowers after a few weeks can be a good idea. Reassurance and good cheer can be underlined through these offerings and remind the recipients that the departed spirit shines brighter than ever and the reminiscing is shared.Flowers at a funeral are a way of showing sensitivity and commiseration and provide moral support as well as soothe disturbed hearts. Flowers create a hallowed atmosphere that reveres and sanctifies the passing and celebrate life.

Sending flowers still best way to show sympathy



Filipinos abroad can now share their sympathy with family and friends back in the Philippines when a loved one passes on. Online Philippine flower shops have made wide selections of Philippine flower sympathy wreaths available, as Philippine flowers are one of the best ways to express one's condolences.In the Philippines, it has never been easy to express one's sympathy when a loved one passes on. For many Filipinos, grief has always been difficult but easier to bear with the gift of sympathy wreaths expressing one's condolences. A sympathy wreath featuring beautiful Philippine flowers is still a classic way to condole with a family that has lost a member.For Filipinos abroad, the sending of Philippine flower sympathy wreaths has become easier, thanks in great part to online flower shops that have made ordering and delivering Philippine flowers significantly faster and safer. Online flower shops in the Philippines like Express Regalo (www.expressregalo.com), for instance, offer a wide range of Philippine flower sympathy wreaths for Filipinos based overseas to select from and send with a few clicks of a mouse. Each wreath on Express Regalo may be delivered anywhere within Metro Manila, and come with a six-foot wooden stand to showcase each Philippine flower.The Philippine flower known as anthurium is a classic choice to express one's condolences. The Philippine flower sympathy wreath known as Love, for instance, is a popular choice with many bereaved families, thanks to its unusual but beautiful combination of colors: Philippine flower Sofia (dark orange), Ginia (peach), and Saria (Dark Pink) anthuriums are arranged around a classic green sympathy wreath, and arranged with ribbons; the Remember sympathy wreath takes the same Philippine flowers but arranges it in a different way. The Peace sympathy wreath, meanwhile, features Philippine flowers like Ginia and Presidente (pink and green) anthuriums, lovingly designed to express one's bereavement.The Serenity sympathy wreath, which showcases Sofia and Bea (light pink) anthuriums, is a feminine Philippine flower arrangement popular for family members gone too soon. The Tranquility sympathy wreath, on the other hand, combines Philippine flowers in Tropical (deep red), Ginia, and Bea, to create a sympathy wreath that expresses one's love and devotion.Families that may not necessarily appreciate anthuriums may also be consoled with the sending of Philippine flower sympathy wreaths that showcase Philippine roses. The Harmony wreaths, for instance, are delicate and classic wreaths that features pure white roses and personalized ring accents in pink, yellow, or white, and further embellished with white ribbon. The Memories wreaths, on the other hand, is an absolutely love collection of Philippine flowers, mostly white roses accentuated with a spray of roses in your own choice of color, including red and yellow.

Comfort Loved Ones With Sympathy Flowers


Unexpected loss of loved one is fraught with emotions. It can hardly be expressed with words. To help families cope with the agony and shock, flowers express sympathy and offer comfort.Methods and manners of conveying sympathy differ through cultures, religions and countries but flowers remain appropriate tributes to departed souls. Flowers displayed at the funeral ceremony work as an aromatic reminder of the departed member wishing him " may your soul rest in peace".In case of funeral flower selection, a personal selection is always preferable. However, in this regard florists can also help you. Florists are familiar with most effective design and colors. A guidebook of flower arrangements for funerals may also help. Good taste and cultural taboos must be observed. A florist can directly deliver funeral flowers to bereaved family keeping full privacy.Today trends in funeral services are changing, but still funeral flowers can be designed to convey the aura and the spirit of the person. During selection of funeral flowers, please talk to the florist about the personality and about special quirks of departed loved one, this will help more personalized funeral flower creation. Personalized funeral flower creation will give comfort to grieving family.Wreaths denoting circle of life are well known tokens of condolence. But these days, flower sprays are more popular on an easel. Fresh flowers arrangements in a container or vase, floral design for the casket and casket sprays are getting more popularity and attention these days. Color of funeral flowers plays an important role. Colors are conventionally pink, white and pastels but tropical blooms or red roses can convey depth of feeling and warmth to the grieving family.Sometimes an offering of a flowering plant, a potted green, sapling or bonsai can spark a new hope within sorrowing hearts. The act of caring a new plant can speed grieving process and help in the healing.Sending funeral flowers after few days is a good idea rather than sending right after the event. Words of consolation with reassurance can be attached with the flowers to convey the bereaved family that spirit of loved one shines brighter than ever and his or her memories will always remain in hearts.Sending funeral flowers is a way of providing moral support, showing sensitivity and commiserations as they heal disturbed and departed hearts. Funeral flowers create a respectful and peaceful atmosphere.

Sympathy Flowers - Advice To Ease Your Stress


Flowers have been displayed at the time of one's passing in nearly every culture throughout time, and their importance continues today. At funerals, wakes, memorials, and cremation services, flowers and plants are a sensitive way to commemorate the life of the departed, express heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family, and provide an important element of natural beauty in an otherwise somber environment. Family and friends often comment on the artistry, color, and fragrance of sympathy flowers, helping to aide conversation and soften the sorrow. An outpouring of flowers or a particularly striking floral tribute may be remembered long after the funeral as one of the most uplifting symbols of support. In the weeks that follow, flowers, gift baskets, and other expressions sent to the home are also important, as family members adjust to their grief. If you would like to express your sympathy to someone but are unsure what types of flowers or other gestures may best fit the situation, here are a few suggestions from experts to help.Showing You CareThe most important consideration is to show you care, for the deceased, the bereaved family, and other loved ones who will be gathered. Flowers are one critical component, because they show tribute and honor to the life of the deceased. When considering what type of sympathy flowers may be most appropriate, consider that life. Bright flowers may be best to describe a fruitful life and convey the joy of fondest memories. Pale pastels are appropriate for a soft, feminine touch, while Autumn tones convey a more masculine theme. Pure white blossoms denote purity, grace, and peace. Roses, especially red ones, express undying love.Making It PersonalIf you'd like to personalize your tribute even more, your local florist can help. You might consider incorporating a favorite flower, personal item, or picture of the family. For someone who loved gardening, you might consider a gathering basket of garden fresh flowers with a just-picked look. For someone of faith, you might prefer a cross, Madonna, or other icon. Funeral flowers can be designed in all kinds of shapes and sizes, including insignias and sports items, as well as more traditional wreaths and sprays. Of course, flowers aren't the only way to show you care. Other gestures are important as well. Providing dinner for the family some evening can be so helpful, especially for families including children or elderly. A thoughtful letter, informal outing, or contribution to a favorite charity are excellent options, too. These additional gestures compliment the thoughtfulness of your sympathy flowers, adding an extra personal touch that will be greatly appreciated.Knowing How Much to SpendThe cost of funerals is steadily increasing. Fortunately, there are flowers for almost every budget. You can express yourself eloquently with something as simple as a single perfect rose, as economical as a modest mixed arrangement, or as striking as a grande standing spray of elegant roses and lilies. For gifts to the funeral home or memorial service, fresh flower arrangements in vases and fan-shaped sympathy designs are usually best, because they provide the most impact for your money. Sympathy flowers come in a broad range of sizes and price ranges. The choice is up to you, but remember there may be other floral tributes displayed in close proximity. So, you don't want to skimp on size. For a nice table arrangement, plan on spending about $50 to $70, with fancier styles running $75 and up. For a larger standing piece, $100 to $150 is common. For gifts to the home, both flowers and plant are popular, with prices typically in the $35 to $60 range.What about "in lieu of flowers?"At the suggestion of well-meaning friends or advisors, families sometimes include a phrase in the obituary announcement such as, "In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to..." Of course, most families sincerely appreciate all personal expressions of support and may later regret having too few flowers at the funeral. A more appropriate phrase for many might be, "In addition to flowers..." or simply, "Contributions appreciated to..." Use your best judgement, but keep in mind that the "in lieu of" terminology is usually intended to encourage charitable gifts rather than discourage other expressions. Tasteful sympathy flowers are almost always appropriate in addition to charitable giving.I didn't find out until after the funeral!Even if you didn't know about the funeral until after it was over, you can still convey your love and respect. Family members need your thoughts, prayers, and personal expressions long after the funeral is over. Flowers and other gestures are a sensitive and appropriate way to let them know that they are not alone. After all, one of the best ways to honor those who have passed is to support those they have left behind.Are there other ways that I can help?The best thing you can do is to let family members know that you care. Help with meals, provide child care, drop by with a gift or card, or simply call. Everyone responds to loss differently, but reaching out reminds people they're not alone. You're care may help distract them from their grief allowing an easier transition into a normal routine. In other words, just being there is the best thing you can do to help.